Manchester City and Chelsea are set to do battle at the Etihad on Monday, a monumental clash that will pit the first-place Citizens against the third-place Blues. Jason Garrison Lightning Jersey . Watch Chelsea vs. Manchester City live on TSN2 at 3pm et/Noon pt. City managed to move to the top of the Premier League table by capitalizing on Arsenals 2-2 draw with Southampton on Tuesday, cruising to a 5-1 demolition of Tottenham at White Hart Lane the following day. The Citizens have been in cruise control over the past couple of months, winning its last eight Premier League contests. After suffering defeat at Sunderland on Nov. 10, City has gone on to take a total of 34 points from 12 games. But even in such a rich vein of form, the Citizens only find themselves one point clear of Arsenal at the Premier League summit, and manager Manuel Pellegrini does not think his side deserves to be labeled the title favorites. "I think its too soon to be the favorites - [there are] a lot of matches to play," Pellegrini told the clubs official website after Wednesday defeat of Spurs. "If we continue to play the way we are, we will have chances to win but its early." City boasts an unblemished home record through 11 league matches at the Etihad this term, but Chelsea will be quite motivated to end that spell Monday. Not only did the Blues drop points for the first time in five Premier League outings with a scoreless draw against West Ham on Wednesday, but they can take confidence from their 2-1 win over City at Stamford Bridge in October. Chelsea can lean on its stout defense, which has leaked just three goals in the clubs last eight matches. And with Sergio Aguero, Citys main scoring threat, looking doubtful for Mondays clash, the Blues certainly have a solid opportunity to pick up some valuable road points. Building to Mondays main course is one of Englands fiercest rivalries, taking place at St. James Park in Saturdays early fixture. Newcastle suffered a 2-1 loss at the Stadium of Light earlier in the season, but the Magpies will be hoping to reverse the result when they play host to Sunderland in the latest installment of the Tyne-Wear derby. Manchester United has been rejuvenated by the arrival of Juan Mata, who helped lead the club to a 2-0 defeat of Cardiff City on Tuesday. The Red Devils have taken just two wins from their last four Premier League outings, but the club is hopeful that Mata can bring two successive wins with maximum points at Stoke City on Saturday. Danny Rose, who was harshly sent off in Tottenhams horrific defeat to Manchester City on Wednesday, had his red card rescinded by the English Football Association this week and is available for selection this weekend. Spurs will head to the KC Stadium on Saturday to face a Hull City side that is hoping to snap a four-game slide. Also on Saturday, Fulham will look to avoid a fourth straight defeat when it welcomes Southampton to Craven Cottage, Cardiff City will aim to snap a four- game losing streak when it hosts Norwich City, Aston Villa will attempt to build upon its narrow midweek win with a vital victory over Everton at Goodison Park and West Ham United squares off with Swansea City at Upton Park. On Sunday, Arsenal will look to apply some additional pressure on Chelsea and City by taking three points from its contest with Crystal Palace at the Emirates, and Liverpool heads to the Hawthorns to do battle with West Bromwich Albion. Custom Tampa Bay Lightning Jersey . The result left Betis nine points from safety with 10 rounds to play. Elche edged four points clear of the relegation zone with its sixth straight home game without a loss. Braydon Coburn Lightning Jersey .ca. Hi Kerry, This may sound like a silly question but Im watching Anaheim and Vancouver Monday night and during a stoppage of play, I noticed that when the linesman Brian Mach No.SUNRISE – The job that was supposed to belong to high-priced free agent signee Tim Connolly remains in the hands of Tyler Bozak. The 25-year-old has registered 19 points in the last 20 games playing pivot for Phil Kessel and Joffrey Lupul on the Leafs first line. And with 24 points already this season, Bozak is just eight points from matching the total he had all of last season in an underwhelming sophomore campaign. “I think the main thing for me is just confidence,” he told the Leaf Report. “Im confident now that I can get the job done out there; I can get points, I can keep my own end clean and whenever youre playing with confidence youre a way better player.” Several improvements have sparked the breakthrough third season, many of which stem from greater accountability in the defensive zone. Struggling to put points on the board early last season, Bozak admittedly cheated in his own end, looking to jump-start the production expected of a first-line centre. “But you find out the hard way that that just results in more goals against and less goals for you,” he said. The minus-29 rating, which stuck like a scarlet letter to his name (and was amongst the worst in the NHL) was a source of real frustration and top priority for cleanup this fall. A plus-5 rating thus far demonstrates progress in that regard. “Obviously theyre still going to be mishaps,” Bozak said. “Were an offensive line and we want to produce offensively and not spend a lot of time in our zone so theres going to be times where we give up some goals, but were plus players this year which is nice.” Offensively in the past, there was a strong tendency on Bozaks part to force-feed Kessel the puck. Running shotgun with a regular 30-goal man, he felt the need and obvious pressure to find his high-powered linemate as much as possible. “Early in my career I would force it to Phil all the time,” Bozak conceded, “and even he doesnt want me to do that; he wants me to take my shots when I have my opportunities.” Without a goal in the opening 14 games, Bozak has found twine seven times now in the last 20 games. “Im more confident now that I can score goals. Obviously still a pass-first guy and Im going to be looking to make the pass first, but Im not going to force the stuff like I used to,” he said. According to Bozak, the offensive pitfalls – which saw him post just 15 goals and 32 points in 2010-2011 despite logging over 19 minutes a game – tied back to what became a constant mental struggle in the defensive end, a circular effect considering the initial source of the miscues (cheating for offence). “I think last year wasnt [so much] confidence [that] I couldnt score,” he explained, “it was just every time I was on the ice I thought I was going to get scored on, more so than thinking I was going to score or our line was going to score. And this year every time we get a shift I think theres a good chance that we can get a goal between the three of us.” Kessel (41 points) and Lupul (38) sit comfortably amongst the league leaders in scoring this season, primarily (and rather unexpectedly) with the third-year centre in the middle. Connolly was inked to a two-year contract this past summer, specifically to fill the first-line centre void, but with injuries and the lines continued success without him theres been little reason for Ron Wilson switch things up. He aimed ever so briefly last week to get “more the look of what we expected” with Connolly in between Kessel and Lupul, but after two periods reverted back to Bozak. “I was able to get on [the line] at the right time when Loops and Phil got hot,” Bozak noted. “They obviously dont want to break up a line thats doing well so I think a lot of the credit goes out to the wingers for that.” In addition to the flexibility hes provided down the middle, Bozak has also recently returned to the penalty-kill – a role he filled with some success last season – while remaining a quiet, but effective presence on the leagues 3rd ranked powerplay (nine points). Brian Burke claimed to have added a player of first-round caliber when he signed Bozak as a free agent from the University of Denver. With his performance so far this season, Bozak is beginning to justify that hype. Five Points on Ron Wilson 1. Ron Wilsons contract extension – believed to be a one-yyear deal according to TSNs Darren Dreger – caught many off-guard, but according to Wilson the deal was finalized at some point in early December. Brian Boyle Jersey. Burke offered some interesting insight into his decision to extend Wilson on Monday afternoon. “Ive got news for you,” Burke said. “If the Toronto Maple Leafs fired Ron Wilson hed be working again in about two weeks. This is what people dont realize; theyre chanting ‘Fire Wilson [last season]. The first thing is, is that guy going to be hired right away by somebody and I think the answer is yes…like every coach hes worked in several places, [but] he hasnt been out of work very long and theres a reason for that, the hockey community believes in this guy. And the second thing is people say ‘Fire the coach and you say ‘Okay, thats plan A, were going to fire the coach, whats plan B? Whos out there with better coaching credentials than Ron Wilson? To me, this is the right thing. I think Ron earned it and Im happy for him.” 2. The Leafs have missed the playoffs in each of Wilsons three seasons – they sit sixth currently this season – but according to Burke, much of that load rests on his shoulders. “This has been the hardest period of my professional life as far as waiting for this team to finally round into the type of team that I wanted to put on the ice,” he said. “And I think we have that group now…Ive been through the turnaround process before. One time it took four years to get to where we wanted to be (Vancouver), one time it took two years (Anaheim). No, Im disappointed in how long its taken me to do this.” 3. Those fortunate to find a place in Wilsons good books have his constant backing. Bozak is among them. “Rons been awesome towards me,” Bozak said. “Hes given me a chance every year and obviously sees something in me and is confident in me. Hes putting me out there in situations where I never knew Id be out in the NHL. Im confident now. Im confident I can go out in those situations and get the job done. He helped build my confidence a ton for sure.” 4. Darryl Boyce is another to have caught Wilsons eye with his relentless job pursuit last season. Boyce turned a one-game last minute call-up into a 46-game stint. “Its like everyone, youve got to build a trust with people and build a good rapport,” Boyce said. “It started early on in my first 10 games and then he put a little bit more trust in me the next 10 and it just sort of gradually built from there; from the first game being back [with the Leafs] against Buffalo and seeing that he had no fear of putting me on the ice with a minute left in the game in a one-goal game. Im grateful for that and glad to be put in those positions on the ice.” 5. Contract extension and all, job security has hardly grown for Wilson and he knows that. “Ive seen lots of coaches get fired this year with lots of term left so the pressure doesnt change,” he said. “I could get fired next week for all I know. I have a little bit of combat pay coming in other words.” News-The Leafs placed John-Michael Liles on IR with concussion-like symptoms. While theyve yet to acknowledge the correlation, Liles took a huge hit from Sabres forward Paul Gaustad last Thursday, missing the following game in Long Island with a sore neck. Ron Wilson said Liles was feeling better today, but not well enough to go (he did not skate). "Right now its best that he just sits out and stays away from the rink for a couple of days, simple as that," Wilson said.-Liles joins Mike Komisarek (arm), Matthew Lombardi (shoulder), Mike Brown (back), and Colby Armstrong (concussion) on the injured reserve. Phillipe Dupuis is also still nursing a broken thumb.-James Reimer makes his fourth consecutive start in goal. Reimer and the Leafs have won their last two games.-The Panthers beat the Leafs in their only meeting this season, winning by a 5-1 final on November 8th. Stephen Weiss wont play for the Panthers because of an upper-body injury. Jose Theodore is expected to start in goal.-Nazem Kadri has scored in both games since being recalled from the Marlies. LinesLupul Bozak KesselFrattin Grabovski KuleminMacArthur Connolly KadriBoyce Steckel Crabb Aulie PhaneufGunnarsson SchennGardiner Franson Reimer Injured: Komisarek, Lombardi, Brown, Armstrong, Dupuis, Liles. Cheap China JerseysCheap NFL JerseysCheap NFL Jerseys ChinaCheap Jerseys From ChinaChina NFL JerseysCheap JerseysCheap Jerseys China ' ' '

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